This website uses cookies for an improved user experience. By continuing to browse you are agreeing to our use of cookies.

Goal 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth

Promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all

Most of the world’s population live below the breadline, which is influenced by poverty as well. A factor that influences this as well is the lack of proper work opportunities that lead to an uneven distribution of economic growth. To ensure that sustainable economic growth takes place, it is essential that decent job opportunities are created for all people across the working age group.

The number of unemployed people is rapidly increasing every year, and the majority of these individuals are young people. In order to promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth for all people worldwide, more than 470 million jobs have to be created between 2016 and 2030.

SDG 8 aims to bring about a 7% yearly gross domestic product growth in developing countries, which in turn will result in increased levels of economic productivity and growth among all sectors. This can only happen if diversification and upgrading of technology takes place, as access to financial services is a necessity to promote employment, entrepreneurship, and the creation of smaller businesses. The target is to create decent jobs for all people worldwide by 2030, especially for young people and people with disabilities, and to lower the number of young people who are unemployed and uneducated by 2020

An Introduction to Goal 8

Written and created by our team in Limpopo, South Africa

Our Data

Number of participants
benefiting from skills training / workshops

Number of field staff
who have completed the GVI OSSM course

Worldwide Data

5

Global unemployment increased

from 170 million in 2007 to nearly 202 million in 2012

5

Nearly 2.2 billion people

live below the US$2 poverty line and that poverty eradication is only possible through stable and well-paid jobs

5

470 million jobs

are needed globally for new entrants to the labour market between 2016 and 2030

5

75 million young women and men

are unemployed worldwide

Our Related UN Target

8.6

By 2020, substantially reduce the proportion
of youth not in employment, education or training

8.8

Protect labour rights and promote safe and secure
working environments for all workers, including migrant workers,
in particular women migrants, and those in precarious employment